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Category Roofing
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About

A gable roof (dual-slope) is the most common residential roof form, yet calculating its surface area from a floor plan requires trigonometric application. Miscalculating the slope factor can lead to significant material shortages. This calculator solves the "hypotenuse" (rafter length) based on the building's span and roof pitch.

Beyond basic area, this tool itemizes essential trim components: Ridge Caps (for the peak) and Rake Trim (for the sloping edges). It includes a selectable wastage factor to account for cutting scrap, which is critical for metal decking where panels cannot be easily spliced.

gable roof pitch calculator roof trim metal decking rafter length

Formulas

The calculator determines the Rafter Length (Lr) using the Run (w/2) and Pitch (P).

Multiplier (M) = 1 + (P12)2

Lr = (Width / 2) × M

Area = Lr × Length × 2 (sides)

Waste is applied as Total = Area × (1 + Waste%)

Reference Data

Pitch (Rise/12)Angle (°)Multiplier (Secant)
3/1214.0°1.031
4/1218.4°1.054
6/1226.6°1.118
8/1233.7°1.202
12/1245.0°1.414

Frequently Asked Questions

Roof pitch is the vertical rise in inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run. You can measure this from the attic using a level and tape measure, or use a pitch gauge app on your phone.
Rake trim (or gable trim) covers the exposed edge of the roof sheeting along the sloping sides of the gable. It prevents water intrusion and wind uplift while providing a finished look.
Metal panels are linear. If you have a rafter length of 11ft and order 12ft sheets, you lose 1ft per sheet. Additionally, angles and mistakes consume material. A 10% waste factor is standard for simple gables.